Refreshing Memories
Rain's influences are reflected in his set lists and bringing back memories is the core of his performance. Artists like Jim Croce, Paul Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, America, James Taylor, The Beatles, Muddy Waters, John Prine and others are his selection of colors.Rain's debut album, Parrothead Party, a live recording at the Isle of Capri Casino in Bossier City, LA, is a collection of upbeat cover songs from some of his biggest influences.
These range from Don McClean to Jimmy Buffett, Jim Croce and Sam Cooke, to Louisiana songwriter Johnny O'Neal. Rain's overall theme of refreshing past experiences and creating new ones has struck a chord with diverse audiences of all ages.
Rain is originally from the town of Indianola, Mississippi where he started his career in early 1986 playing in the clubs, festivals, and live music venues of the Mississippi Delta. Working with Delta area artists such as Abie "Boogaloo" Ames, Eden Brent, 'Little' Bill Wallace, Steve Azar, Michael Carley, and Kern Pratt permeated him with countless lessons in the music business and inspired him to become a first class performer. His parents were of course his earliest influence, but Rain's first hands-on experience with true folk music came from the Saturday night jam sessions in an old shop in downtown Leland, MS with a group of 60s hippie musicians.
After completing a degree in Marketing from Delta State University in 1992, Rain picked up an agriculture research position as a cotton entomologist for the State of Mississippi. This provided him with a solid yet diverse foundation while building his guitar chops and immense song repertoire. Shortly after, he was playing five packed nights a week, quickly gaining popularity, and was asked to perform at the renowned Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival. Invitations for live radio appearances, television interviews, and performances as a featured artist at regional festivals and music venues kept him on the move. In 1996 he relocated to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, introduced himself to a new circle of musical partners, and continued his high volume of performances. They gave him the moniker of "the hardest working man in show business" here on the coast.